LASIK Surgery

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KEY POINTS

• LASIK is a type of eye surgery that uses a laser to change the shape of the cornea. The cornea is the clear outer layer on the front of the eye.
• LASIK may correct your vision and reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses.
• Ask your provider how long it will take to recover and how to take care of yourself at home.
• Make sure you know what symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if you have them.

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What is LASIK?

LASIK is a type of eye surgery that uses a laser to change the shape of the cornea. The cornea is the clear outer layer on the front of the eye. LASIK is an abbreviation for laser in situ keratomileusis.

When is it used?

LASIK may correct your vision and reduce or eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses. Most people have at least 20/40 vision after LASIK. It may be used to treat:

• Mild to moderately severe nearsightedness. Nearsightedness means that you see close objects clearly, but distant objects are blurry. This happens when the eyeball is too long or when the outer layer of the eye, called the cornea, is too curved. This causes light rays to focus at a point in front of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina) instead of directly on it.
• Mild farsightedness. Farsightedness is when you see distant objects clearly, but close objects are blurry. This happens when the shape of your eyeball causes light rays to focus in the wrong place at the back of your eye.
• Astigmatism. Astigmatism is blurred vision caused by an uneven curve in your cornea. The cornea is the clear outer layer on the front of the eye. As a result of astigmatism, your vision is somewhat blurry close up and far away.

Be sure to talk to your provider about how much improvement in your vision you can realistically expect. Not everyone should have LASIK. Your provider will do several tests to find out if LASIK is a good choice for you.

Often both eyes are done at the same time. However, your provider may prefer to do one at a time. Healing after LASIK surgery is usually faster than recovery after other types of eye surgery.

Ask your healthcare provider about your choices for treatment and the risks.

How do I prepare for this procedure?

• Very accurate measurements are needed for LASIK. Contact lenses can change the shape of the cornea. Do not wear rigid contact lenses for at least 3 weeks or soft contact lenses for 2 weeks before your appointment for evaluation for surgery. Ask your provider how long before the procedure to stop wearing your contacts.
• You may or may not need to take your regular medicines the day of the procedure. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines and supplements that you take. Some products may increase your risk of side effects. Ask your healthcare provider if you need to avoid taking any medicine or supplements before the procedure.
• Do not wear eye makeup, perfume, or cologne on the day of the surgery.
• Follow any other instructions your healthcare provider gives you.
• Ask any questions you have before the procedure. You should understand what your healthcare provider is going to do. You have the right to make decisions about your healthcare and to give permission for any tests or procedures.

What happens during the procedure?

The surgery is done in an office with laser equipment. The provider numbs your eyes with eye drops. Then he makes a small cut part way into the cornea. The provider leaves one edge of this tissue attached to your eye, forming a flap. The flap is then opened, like a door on a hinge. Your provider uses the laser to remove thin layers of tissue within the cornea until it is the right shape to improve your vision. The removal of tissue changes the shape of the cornea so that light rays can focus on or closer to the retina, which improves your vision. At the end of the procedure, the provider replaces the flap. No stitches are needed.

What happens after the procedure?

Usually you will be able to see well in a few hours. You will have little or no pain. Your eyes may feel dry for a few days or weeks. Your provider can prescribe eye drops to reduce the dryness.

If needed, your provider can repeat the procedure at a later time to fine-tune your vision.

Ask your healthcare provider:

• How long it will take to recover
• If there are activities you should avoid and when you can return to your normal activities
• How to take care of yourself at home
• What symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if you have them

Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup. Keep all appointments for provider visits or tests.

What are the risks of LASIK?

Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure and any risks. Some possible risks include:

• Your eyes may be over-corrected or under-corrected, and you may still need glasses or another procedure (a touch-up).
• You may have scarring that causes glare or an irregular astigmatism. This can cause blurry vision, particularly at night.
• You may need glasses for close vision or driving at night. After LASIK some people need to start using reading glasses sooner than they would have without it. (Most people need reading glasses after about age 40 because of normal changes in their eyes.)
• Rarely, the cornea gets severely inflamed, called keratitis. This may need treatment with eye drops or more surgery.
• Very rarely, you may get an infection, which can cause your vision to be worse than it was before the procedure.
• Very rarely, the flap may move if there is minor injury to the eye, because the flap will never heal to the same strength as the cornea.

Every procedure or treatment has risks. Ask your healthcare provider how these risks apply to you. Be sure to discuss any other questions or concerns that you may have.